Rental rates for Iowa farmland decreased moderately in 2014 according to results from a survey carried out by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. This is the first decrease shown by the annual survey since 1999, according to William Edwards, retired extension economist who directs the survey.

ISU Extension and Outreach has created a new online newsletter to support beginning and transitioning farmers. “The Rural Innovator” is a quarterly, online newsletter that connects beginning farmers with resources, innovators with ideas and technology and transitioning farmers with the next generation.

The Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic provides diagnosis of plant problems (plant diseases, insect damage, and assessment of herbicide damage) and the identification of insects and weeds from the field, garden, and home.

Specialists have compiled a list of resources to help you prepare for and recover from natural disasters. Remember to take care of yourself and your family first; then deal with the things lost to the disaster.